Proponents of e-cigarettes argue that the survey result, which showed traditional cigarette use declined among teenagers, is getting less attention. That is certainly a positive step forward, if true, but that doesn't lessen my concern about e-cigarettes.

The fact is, vaping is quickly rising among teenagers, and parents need to be aware of what we know and don't know about its threats to our health. E-cigarettes may in some cases help smokers kick the habit, usually by a gradual reduction of the amount of nicotine in each cartridge, but it also appears to be attracting new users, mostly teenagers who have never smoked.

"What I can say definitively is that nicotine is harmful to the developing teenage brain," Mitch Zeller, director of the Center for Tobacco Products at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration told Science News in a recent, riveting examination of the hazards e-cigarettes pose to teenagers. "No teenager, no young person, should be using any tobacco or nicotine-containing products," he added.

The risk of creating a new problem while solving an old one is a major reason the FDA should be questioning the wisdom of approving widespread e-cigarette use.

The FDA doesn't regulate these products, however, and even though they're supposed to be limited to adults in all but 10 states and the District of Columbia, it's not all that difficult for minors everywhere to buy them.

More than 300 million Americans, including 70 million children, live in states that allow use of e-cigarettes in worksites, restaurants and bars, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Ken Goldfield/(Ken Goldfield for Ny Daily News)

* 4 million people in America currently use e-cigarettes, according to the Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association.

* Of those who have tried e-cigs, 1.8 million are young people, according to the Centers for Disease Control

* 160,000 students in grades 6 to 12 — whose ages are 12 to 18 and who never smoked conventional cigarettes — tried e-cigarettes in 2014.

* E-cigarettes are a $1.5 billion industry — and that's just in the United States.

* More than 250 e-cigarette brands are available in the U.S.

* Minors are still legally permitted to buy e-cigarettes in 10 states including Maine, Massachusetts, Texas and Pennsylvania.

The profit numbers are also particularly astounding considering e-cigarettes only started gaining in popularity since 2007. I can't help but believe this newly minted, billion-dollar industry will spark increased use among young people.

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But enough said about that.

Research is essential for us to understand the risks of inhaling the liquid vapor, synthetic nicotine and propylene glycol, some of the main components found in e-cigarettes, over the long term.

It's not the medical data that is as disturbing, but the lack thereof. There have been studies evaluating their safety, and the FDA has performed numerous testing around the chemicals, but almost no clinical trials have been performed to determine long- or short-term health effects.

To deem e-cigarettes "safe" because they contain fewer toxins than typical cigarettes is troubling. The data is disturbingly incomplete for an entirely new product that has not been FDA approved. The fact is, e-cigarettes haven't been fully studied.

As a doctor, the supposed positives e-cigarettes have on helping heavy smokers to quit doesn't change my concern about how readily accessible these products are to young people and the potentially addictive behavior they encourage.

When someone stops inhaling the tar of cigarettes and only inhales nicotine, what are the physical effects? Again, we don't know. These products must undergo much more testing.

Again, my main concern is accessibility. The potential health risks to a young person being exposed to the known and unknown chemicals in e-cigarettes is troubling.

We know e-cigarettes contain some form of synthetic nicotine released by a vaporizer, but the levels consistently vary across products. A battery-powered heater then releases propylene glycol, a chemical used to make fake smoke, often for theatrical use.

Now, of course e-cigarettes can seem perfectly safe when compared to conventional cigarettes, which contain tar, carbon monoxide, ammonia and more than 40 other known carcinogens.

E-cigarettes contain some form of synthetic nicotine released by a vaporizer, and it comes in a range of exotic flavors that makes it highly enticing to youngsters. A battery-powered heater then releases propylene glycol, a chemical used to make fake smoke, often for theatrical use. (Frank Franklin II/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

But don't be misled.

Medical experts have expressed concerns about an array of potential health concerns involving e-cigs because there have been no long-range studies of their impact on users, nor of synthetic nicotine vapor inhaled directly into the lung tissue as well as the effect of propylene glycol.

Liquid nicotine is extracted from tobacco, and a dose of just one tablespoon can can kill an adult when ingested or absorbed through the skin. What's more, one dose or less than one teaspoon can kill a child.

This increase began just as e-cigarettes gained popularity, and with FDA approval just around the corner.

The "vapor" in e-cigarettes contains ultrafine particles, with tiny amounts of synthetic toxic substances and even some heavy metals. And again, we don't know the specifics of these toxins, as companies are currently not disclosing all of them. I'll explain more about that later.

It's quite easy for young people to get used to vaping as opposed to conventional smoking, where dizziness, coughing and learning to inhale can take some time, anyone vaping for the first time can inhale on the first puff. And there's little to no odor.

This ease of use also worries me.

Research is essential for us to understand the risks of inhaling the liquid vapor, synthetic nicotine and propylene glycol, some of the main components found in e-cigarettes, over the long term. (Ben Margot/AP)

Furthermore, e-cigarettes are packaged to appeal to young people. The high-tech design, accessibility and assortment of flavors like chocolate, strawberry, bubble gum and cherry feed the sensation-seeking and lifestyle appeal young people may be looking for.

Most teenagers are under the impression that vaping is a perfectly safe alternative to smoking, and we can't ignore the obvious factor of peer influence.

The other big question is, are e-cigarettes a gateway to use of real tobacco? Will young people start with vaping only to "graduate" to conventional smoking?

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The fact is, nicotine is an addictive agent and exposure at a young age may cause lasting harm to the brain, since it is still developing. It also promotes addiction, which could lead to sustained use.

The effects of second-hand vapor are also unknown but of major concern.

Proponents of e-cigarettes claim they are diverting young people away from regular cigarettes, but at what cost?

We know how difficult it is for traditional smokers to escape their nicotine addiction. We don't know as much about those who get hooked on vaping.

The FDA only started regulating e-cigarettes closely in 2011, and there are continuing initiatives around specific issues, starting with the manufacture and sale of these products.

10 states and Washington, D.C., allow sales of e-cigarettes to minors, the CDC says. (MARIO ANZUONI/REUTERS)

It was only last year that the FDA started imposing regulations on manufacturers around the disclosure of the chemicals.

But they still have work to do.

One of the major concerns is the considerable variability between the actual contents of the vaporizers across various e-cigarette brands. Just because e-cigarettes contain fewer toxic substances than cigarette smoke, doesn't mean they're not a health threat.

Secondly, the quantity of synthetic nicotine listed on the labels may not match the actual amount in the cartridge. FDA testing showed that levels ranged from 26.8 to 43.2 micrograms of nicotine per 100 millimeter puff, even from the same e-cigarette brand.

The FDA claims there is strict regulation in place to protect minors, but the recent CDC survey showing that e-cigarette use has tripled among sixth to 12th graders suggests that the regulation isn't strict enough.

E-cigarette companies also promise sophisticated age-verification technology to limit access to minors. Well, I visited one company, BluCigs.com, to see for myself. What I found was a very simple popup, and with one click, I was in. I have a hard time believing this would slow down our tech-savvy teens.

Online accessibility is a huge issue, as is quality control. Many companies are not disclosing all the ingredients in their products.

Back in 2009, the FDA found a liquid nicotine that carried about 1% diethylene glycol, a toxic chemical found in antifreeze. There is also a need to vet the health and safety claims made on e-cigarette product labels.

The American Lung Association has called for a ban on e-cigarettes. Researchers have found, despite marketing claims that e-cigarettes are safer than smoking tobacco, that users experienced diminished lung function, airway resistance and cellular changes along with signs of inflammation.

What Parents Need to Know

As both a parent and a doctor, I am highly concerned about the effects e-cigarettes are having on the younger generation. Here is what I recommend to parents:

1. Understand that any level of nicotine inhaled at a young age can affect brain development.

2. These products are like candy, literally; their exotic flavors only increase their appeal to teenagers.

3. There is almost no smell, which makes them very hard to detect or find.

4. Educate your kids on the health risks of e-cigarettes; emphasize the unknown factors that may affect their health.

Dr. Samadi is a board-certified urologic oncologist trained in open and traditional and laparoscopic surgery, and an expert in robotic prostate surgery. He is chairman of urology, chief of robotic surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital and professor of urology at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine. He is a medical correspondent for the Fox News Channel's Medical A-Team and the chief medical correspondent for am970 in New York City, where he is heard Sundays at 10 a.m.